Depends, do you know how to properly remove a usb flash drive, or do you just yank it out when you're done?

Have you tried formatting it?

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Actually, it looks like the file structure is corrupted. The first thing I suggest it learn to use the cloud. It will make your data available on all your devices. Some services will allow you to track versions of documents and permit collaboration if you are on a team project.

I encrypt all my removable media and I do not trust backups to any single place.

Flash drives have a finite life. Most will not give you a nice warning they are going bad.

Destroy the chip before disposing of it. Data you deleted may be retrievable and in today's digital world, it can come back to haunt when you run for political office down the road.

Once or twice I may have "yanked it" but generally I properly remove hardware. I did reformat it once after the first corruption. Lasted for a couple weeks before reoccurring.

Looks like it's getting the hammer. Thanks fellas.

Yea, it's probably toast. Personally I would think of something good to put on it and then drop it in a parking lot, like Walmart.

By something good I mean a harmless prank, not something malicious.

__________________Mike - A forum post should be like a skirt. Long enough to cover the subject material, but short enough to keep things interesting.
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